Ready to Rumble in Haiti

Photo: Olivier Monserrat-Robert

By Robert Coster, reporting from Haiti

With all 18 boxers present and members of the international press on hand, Haitian promoter Jacques Deschamps gave the last press conference before his upcoming boxing card on Friday, one in which two regional titles will be disputed. The one fight that has the local fans buzzing involves French-Haitian jr. middleweight Jimmy “Pitbull” Colas (27-6, 11 KOs) who will clash with Dominican Junior Ramos (10-4, 6 KOs), a winner in eight of his last ten, for the WBC Latino (interim) belt.

Also on the card, WBA #3 and former jr featherweight champion Ricardo Cordoba pitted against Luis Felipe Murillo of Colombia.

Photo: Olivier Monserrat-Robert

Yet another attraction on the boxing menu is the late inclusion of 19-year-old Brazilian standout Michael Oliveira(10-0, 8 KOs), fighting out of Miami, facing tough Dominican Eduardo Mercedes(5-1,5 KOs) in an eight-rounder in the middleweight class.

The press conference, held at the plush Hotel Karibe in Petionville, afforded some amusing verbal exchanges between Colas and Ramos.

“I’ll teach my opponent why I’m called ‘the pitbull.’ He’ll have nowhere to hide, no even under his mother’s skirt,” declared Colas to which Ramos retorted, “He barks but does he bite? And if he does try to bite, I’ll put a muzzle on him. I’m going to turn that pitbull into a poodle.”

Others on the card had this to declare:

Nicholas Walters: “This is a big step in my career. I’m unbeaten like my opponent. One of us has to lose and it’s not going to be me.”

Michael Oliveira: “I’ll have a lot of Brazilians here – working with the UN – backing me. I’m looking to make them proud.”

Jacques Deschamps: “I’m happy to be able to have a former world champion (Cordoba), a former European champion(Colas) and four unbeaten prospects on this card. It’s a proof of our effort to develop boxing in Haiti.”